LOVE

Seven years ago today, I married the most sexy, loving, humble and talented man. Looking back I am just so grateful that he turned out to be the man he is because I certainly didn't know what I was doing at 19 years old. I owe just about everything that I am to Brad. He loves me unconditionally and shows it daily. I have yet to ask for anything and him not jump to get it.

My amazing husband took me on friday to a bed-n-breakfast in Driggs. On the way up there he let me just ramble on and on about the twilight series and how excited I am for book four. (3 days left and counting.) He even acted very interested. After we got there and unloaded our stuff, he pulled out a present. Now, it won't sound very sentimental to any of you, but let me just explain how thouhtful it was. So for the past two weeks, everytime Brad has been around when I have been blowdrying my hair, he has heard me complain about how much I hate doing it.(I do. I just hate it.) Anyways, so I had actually gone out last week to update me hair dryer to one that I can hold the nose and not burn my had, and that my diffuser will attach to, but was unsuccessful. Anyways, he, like always, is listening to my needs, and bought me a nice new hair dryer. What a stud. And of course there was a very sentimental letter. (Brads specialty)

That night we went up to a scout camp that Brad used to participate in, and it was their skit night. It was really pretty funny. We then went and got some ben and gerry's, and called it a night. ;)

The next day we had some delicious breakfast, (my favorite part about bed-n-breakfasts) and then headed home to catch a matinee of Batman. (good... but dark)

Husby, thank you for the greatest seven years of my life. I will always love you and no other.

It's that time again

Reunions. My side of the family has at least two a summer. I love it though. Even though I don't know most of them well, I just love the thought that these are all people that no matter what, I can be friends with. I don't really know how to verbalize it, but for me, reunions are a neat thing. This was my dad's family, and we had a pretty fun time. It was at Porter park, so kids had access to the free water park all day long, and there were also lots of kids games to keep them occupied. There was also a carousel ride, painting, and lots of bubbles. The food has got to be one of the best parts of reunions though...don't ya think?
"concentration"

"concentration"










Tiffy, Brad and Wes










Eric and my nephew Raiden













Brad and the boys on the merry go round

worst day ever

I had a close call with one of every moms worst nightmares. I have a bad tendancy to not want to talk about things that scare me, so thats why this hasn't been blogged yet, but everyone close knows what happened, so I might as well.
Every Wednesday I play volleyball with a bunch of other moms at the local stake center. We play, and the kids run around on the other court and play. Well, I pull into the parking lot, and am making a left hand turn into the parking stall o' say 3-5mph or so...and I hear the back door open. For those of you who don't know, I'm driving a Tundra these days to accomodate all my kids. the drop from the back seat is probably a good five feet. Wes decides he's to excited and in mid turn, he unlocks the door..and opens it. Since he was sitting on the left side, the force of the heavy door and the arc of the turn just threw him. I slammed the truck into park so fast fearing I could run him over. I didn't. thank heavens. He had hit the ground and rolled several times before I got to him. Other than some scrapes and bruises, and extreme shock, he's fine. The next time we got into the car to go home, he says "mom, I will never, never, never do that again."
sigh.
The day it happened













four days after

A day at the park.

Yesterday was the kind of day that makes life great. First of all, I got an hour and a half nap. wahooo! Then it was off to the park for a picnic. There was a beautiful stream with old trees lining it, and a quaint little bridge joining the two banks. Luckily, I had my camera. My boys are now playing together, and It makes life so much easier!
Westley just has this insatiable zest for life that is just contagious.


Whatever he is doing, he does with the intensity of four boys. (fun, yet exhausting.) Miles is just content to be.
He loves some good food, and just to be a part of all the action that Westley creates. One of Westley's great qualities that I hope he will always posses, is his ability to quote movies. I don't know if any of you have seen the commercial by JG Wentworth with everyone sticking their heads out their window and yelling "it my money, and I need it now!" We were driving home yesterday, and Westley randomly yells that out. Of course we all start laughing, and then Miles feels like he needs to be in on the action, so he yells his version. "...net now!" He doesn't have quite the vocab that Wes does, but we certainly could tell he was just trying to copy his big brother! priceless. I love these boys.

The 4th

This will probably by my fastest turn-around time for posting pics. Brad and I decided not to brave the crowds down by the river this year. Instead, we watched the fireworks from our deck. If I didn't have kids, I think I would like to be closer, but when everybody else was dodging traffic...we were in bed asleep. Nice.

who's idea was this anyway?

As with the rest of America, we decided to go camping last weekend...

It actually would have went pretty well had I not had such a bad cold. I don't know how the others feel about the trip, but considering there was 6 adults and 5 kids...it was probably a success.
The bummer about it for me was, I have this terrible curse of not being able to sleep with my mouth open. I have to have it closed, and since I had a cold, there was nothing gettin through these nostrils! It actually stems from a childhood fear of swallowing a spider in my sleep. Regardless of its origin, it plagues me about 3 times of year. Anyways. We got a late start due to some construction, but got there and set up camp. It got freezing that night, but I think I was the only one who felt it. The next day we took the ATV's to a lake where someone could have seriously made a horror movie from titled "killer mosquito's." Seriously, I should have taken pics, but Wes looked like he had chicken pox after we got home...and that was with bug spray!


Well, Brad and Tiffany were the only ones brave enough to endure the glacier cold water and go off the rope swing! I just want to give a wahoo for my little sister. She can get so cranky, but she sure knows how to have a good time. I just love that she's always up for anything, and she sure can be the life of a party. A quality I definitely admire. love ya sis.(now we just need to work on her camping skills;)



































On our way back from the lake we stopped to admire the view. I love Idaho.

Home sweet home

I often get comments like "How in the world can you leave your kids to go on vaction?!" Not always...but there is often an undertone of "I would never." Well, my answer is this. I want to be a better mom and wife.






Before we leave, Brad and I are often not much more than roommates. Kids and life are draining. fun, but draining. Before vacation, I'm not nearly as patient and loving as I know I can be.

After we come back, Brad and I have had time to draw close again, experience life's blessings more, and I am amazingly more in love with my kids. All of a sudden, I have new patience and ideas and more desire to be the best mom I can be.

I think we owe it to ourselves, our husbands, and our kids to take some sort of break. Here's a few pics of us enjoying our babies upon returning home.